JP2008237122A - Stirring device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stirring device capable of more uniformly stirring a specimen and a solution and continuously and stably getting a cultured specimen or a cleaned specimen. <P>SOLUTION: The stirring device 1 is provided with a casing 2, a shaft 4 placed in the casing 2 and connected to a vibration source 3, stirring blades 5 vibrating in longitudinal direction by the vibration of the shaft 4 to stir a specimen, partition plates 6 protruded from the inner circumference of the casing 2 and dividing the flow channel into a plurality of stirring chambers 7, a filtering member 10 attached in a manner to encircle the stirring blades 5, dividing the stirring chamber 7 into an inner stirring chamber 8 and an outer stirring chamber 9 and passing a waste generated by the stirring of the specimen, a solution feeding pipe 11 to send a solution, a solution feeding port 12 connected to the solution feeding pipe 11 and to feed the solution to the inner stirring chamber 8, and a solution discharging port 13 to discharge the waste-containing drainage passed through the filtering member 10 from the outer stirring chamber 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a stirrer, and more particularly to a stirrer that supplies a solution to a sample, stirs the sample and the solution using a stirring blade, and discharges waste generated by stirring the sample.

  Culture is adopted as a method for growing a part of cells and tissues of a multicellular organism or a microorganism in an artificial environment. That is, by culturing, it becomes possible to extract a large amount of proteins, nucleic acids, and other specific cells and tissues, and to generate a large amount of microorganisms such as fungi, algae, protozoa, and bacteria. Note that the sample to be cultured according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described cells, tissues, or microorganisms, but includes all those grown by culture.

  This culture may take a growth mode called liquid culture in which the culture is grown in a liquid containing a soluble nutrient source. For example, when cells such as blood and tissues, microorganisms such as lactic acid, organic acid, nucleic acid, and enzyme are grown. This liquid culture includes stationary culture, shaking culture, stirring culture, and the like used when proliferating cells vulnerable to impact.

  Shaking culture is a method of improving the growth rate by vibrating the culture vessel at a frequency of about 0.5 Hz to several Hz. Patent Document 1 shows an example related to shaking culture. Here, a culture method and a device thereof by constant temperature shaking of a sample such as a cell or tissue are disclosed. Thus, in shaking culture, cells or tissues to be cultured are placed in a container such as an Erlenmeyer flask into which the medium has been poured, and this container is placed on a shaking table of a shaker to add vibration. It is. In addition, there are a seesaw shaking culture in which a small amount of liquid is shaken in a container such as a tapper or a petri dish, and a shaking culture by a variable swing that agitates a centrifuge tube.

  Stirring culture is a method in which a sample such as cells or microorganisms is mixed with a medium by rotating a blade such as a stirrer or a screw. By this mixing, samples such as cells and microorganisms are brought into contact with the medium components, and the growth rate can be increased as compared with a stationary culture method without stirring. Furthermore, culture in which a liquid medium is forcibly stirred and carried out in a deep liquid is called liquid deep culture, and is used, for example, for the production of microbial proteins.

  In this submerged culture, various stirring blades are installed in the culture tank, and the stirring blade is attached to a rotating shaft and rotated, and the following swirl flow is generated in the liquid medium in the culture tank and mixed. It is common. FIG. 12 shows an example of a general culture tank and a stirring blade provided in the culture tank. 12 (a) shows a saddle type blade 31 attached to the stirring shaft 34, and FIG. 12 (b) shows an EE cross section of FIG. 12 (a). The saddle type blade 31 generates a horizontal rotating flow 35 in the culture tank 30. 12 (c) shows a propeller blade 32 attached to a stirring shaft 34, and FIG. 12 (d) shows a cross section taken along line FF of FIG. 12 (c). In addition to the horizontal rotating flow 35, the propeller blade 32 also generates a radial flow 36 that is a radial flow.

  Moreover, liquid culture includes batch culture, semi-batch culture, and continuous culture as classification according to the timing of addition of the medium. Batch culture is a so-called batch processing method, in which a new medium is prepared for each culture and cultured. Semi-batch culture is a culture method in which the medium itself or specific components in the medium are added during the culture. Furthermore, continuous culture is a culture method in which a medium is supplied to the incubator at a constant rate and simultaneously the same amount of culture medium is discharged. This continuous culture is characterized in that the culture environment is easily kept constant and the productivity is stable as compared with other culture methods. For example, stirring culture using a stirring blade used for production of a microbial protein is generally performed by batch culture among the above culture methods.

  Furthermore, the culture is a rough culture in which desired cells, tissues or microorganisms are separated from a part of multicellular organisms such as blood or from soil or water collected from the natural world, and are cultured in an appropriate medium for growth. There is. In this case, a step of separating the adhering matter attached to the cells, tissues or microorganisms is performed as a pre-stage of the culture. Further, a pure substance is physically or chemically separated from the mixture. For example, in the case of cells, a process called isolation is performed to separate desired single cells from a cell mass. In addition, this isolation includes the case of separating a part of cells or tissues of a multicellular organism or a substance other than a microorganism, for example, when a powder containing fine powder is washed and separated in a liquid. . In addition, the washing | cleaning of the sample which concerns on this invention includes isolation | separation of this rough culture, a cell, etc., and also the washing | cleaning for common substances.

  On the other hand, Patent Document 2 discloses a stirring and mixing device, a sterilizing device, and a cleaning device. Here, the powder is uniformly dissolved or heated and melted in a short time, the fluidity is improved by heating, the stirring and mixing device, the sterilizing device that can be sterilized or sterilized in a short time, and the cleaning device that can be cleaned in a short time Is disclosed.

JP 2005-269921 A JP 2005-58916 A

  In the shaking culture described above, the entire container is vibrated, so the flow of the liquid medium in the container is not uniform, and partial unevenness occurs. Moreover, since the sample and the liquid medium flow in the same manner, the mixing effect is low. In addition, the shaking culture is a batch culture using a container such as an Erlenmeyer flask, and it is difficult to stably and continuously supply the solution to the sample and treat the waste discharged from the sample.

  In addition, in the agitation culture described above, the mixing effect of the sample and the liquid medium can be obtained by the rotation of the agitation blade, but when the viscosity of the medium is high, there is insufficient mixing around the rotating shaft and the culture tank. Occurs and the mixing effect becomes uneven. On the other hand, when the viscosity of the medium is low, when the stirring blade is rotated, the entire medium in the culture tank causes a swirling flow such as a horizontal rotating flow and the stirring force is reduced. In addition, the sample may be damaged by the shearing force generated by the rotation of the stirring blade. Furthermore, the agitation culture described above is generally performed by batch culture, and it is difficult to continuously and stably supply the solution to the sample and treat the waste discharged from the sample.

  An object of the present application is to solve such a problem, and to provide a stirring device that stirs a sample and a solution more uniformly and obtains a cultured sample or a washed sample continuously and stably.

  In order to achieve the above object, a stirrer according to the present invention includes a casing having therein a flow passage through which a solution containing a sample flows, a shaft portion disposed in the casing and connected to a vibration source, a shaft Agitating blades that are attached around the part and vibrate in the axial direction by the vibration of the shaft part to stir the sample, a partition plate that protrudes from the inner peripheral surface of the casing and partitions the flow path into a plurality of stirring chambers, and the stirring blades The stirring chamber is divided into an internal stirring chamber and an external stirring chamber, a filtering member that allows waste generated by stirring the sample to pass therethrough, a solution supply pipe that circulates the solution, and a solution supply pipe And a solution supply port for supplying the solution to the internal stirring chamber, and a drainage discharge port for discharging the drainage liquid containing the waste that has passed through the filter member from the external stirring chamber.

  In the stirring device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the solution includes a culture solution used for culturing the sample, and waste generated by stirring the sample is discharged from the drainage outlet.

  In the stirring device according to the present invention, the solution includes a cleaning liquid used for cleaning the sample to which the adhered matter is attached, and the adhered matter separated by stirring the sample is discharged as waste from the drainage outlet. Is preferred.

  In addition, the stirring device according to the present invention includes a sample discharge port for discharging the sample, a solution supply port, a drainage discharge port, and a filtering member are provided in each of the plurality of stirring chambers, and fluid flows through the partition plate. It is preferable to discharge the sample having an opening and having passed through the plurality of stirring chambers from the sample discharge port.

  In the stirring device according to the present invention, the solution supply pipe preferably feeds the solution to the internal stirring chamber through the partition plate from the outside.

  Further, the stirring device according to the present invention includes a drainage discharge pipe that circulates drainage and connects to a drainage discharge port, and the drainage discharge pipe passes through the partition plate and discharges the drainage from the external stirring chamber. It is preferable to do.

  Further, in the stirring device according to the present invention, the stirring and filtering member is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the casing through a partition plate having an opening between the shaft portion, and a flow passage is provided inside the casing. It is preferable to provide a plurality of stirring chambers partitioned by a partition plate.

  Further, in the stirring device according to the present invention, it is preferable that the shaft portion is divided into a plurality of shafts, and end portions of adjacent shafts are connected to each other via a spring and a damper to change the frequency of the shaft.

  With the above configuration, the stirring device according to the present invention has a solution supply port for supplying a solution containing the sample in the stirring chamber, and a drainage discharge port for discharging the drainage liquid containing waste, It is possible to stably and continuously process the supply of the solution and the discharge of the waste discharged from the sample. In addition, the sample is mixed in the stirring chamber by more uniform stirring because a periodically reversing flow, which will be described later, is generated in the solution by a stirring blade that vibrates in the axial direction by the vibration of the shaft and stirs the sample. An effect occurs.

  As described above, according to the stirrer according to the present invention, it is possible to stir the sample and the solution effectively and obtain the cultured sample or the washed sample continuously and stably.

  Below, the stirring apparatus which concerns on this invention is demonstrated in detail using drawing.

(First embodiment)
First, the configuration of the stirring device 1 will be described. In FIG. 1, schematic structure of 1st Embodiment of the stirring apparatus 1 is shown. FIG. 2 shows a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. The stirring device 1 of this embodiment includes a casing 2, a shaft portion 4, a stirring blade 5, a partition plate 6, a filtering member 10, a solution supply pipe 11, a solution supply port 12, and a drainage discharge port 13. Further, the stirring device 1 is provided with a vibration source 3 that is connected to the shaft portion 4 and vibrates the shaft portion 4 in the axial direction. Further, the stirring device 1 is provided with a sample supply port 17 for supplying a sample into the stirring chamber 7 and a sample discharge port 16 for discharging the sample from the stirring chamber 7.

  The casing 2 has a flow passage 22 through which a solution containing a sample such as a cell or a microorganism flows. In the present embodiment, the flow passage 22 is divided into a plurality of stirring chambers 7 by the partition plate 6. In FIG. 1, the flow passage 22 includes four stirring chambers 7 and one sample discharge chamber 23, but the number of the stirring chambers 7 is not limited to four and may be any number. Further, the sample discharge chamber 23 is not provided, and the sample discharge port 16 is provided in the outermost stirring chamber 7 from which the sample may be discharged. The partition plate 6 is provided so as to protrude from the inner surface of the casing 2. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the partition plate 6 is an annular plate having an opening 21 inside, and there is a gap between the shaft portion 4 inside the casing 2. The shaft portion 4 passes through the opening 21 of the partition plate 6. The shaft portion 4 is inserted into the casing 2 while being sealed with a sealing material 18. As shown in FIG. 2, the stirring chamber 7 is divided into an internal stirring chamber 8 and an external stirring chamber 9 by a filter member 10 attached in a circular shape. The filter member 10 is attached so as to surround the stirring blade 5, and the stirring blade 5 is accommodated in the internal stirring chamber 8. In FIG. 1, two stirring blades 5 are arranged in each stirring chamber 7, but the number is not limited to this.

  A filter is affixed to the filter member 10. As will be described later, the filter member 10 has a role of allowing waste to pass without passing the sample. Therefore, the mesh of this filter is selected to have a size suitable for its role, but a mesh having a micro level roughness (fine mesh) may be selected depending on the scale of the sample and waste. The filter is made of, for example, stainless steel or ceramic, but is not limited thereto, and may be a polymer (nanofilter film) or the like. By this filter, the sample to be cultured by stirring by the stirring blade 5 is blocked by the filter member 10, and moves sequentially through the stirring chamber 7 to the sample discharge chamber 23, and waste generated by stirring the sample, For example, waste samples are passed through the filter member 10 and discharged outside. Further, the sample to which the adhering matter is attached is blocked by the filter member 10, moves in the stirring chamber 7 sequentially toward the sample discharge chamber 23, and the adhering matter separated from the sample passes through the filtering member 10. Discharged outside.

  In the present embodiment, the solution supply pipe 11, the solution supply port 12, and the drainage discharge port 13 are provided for each stirring chamber 7. FIG. 3 shows an enlarged cross section of a part of FIG. 1 with respect to the solution supply pipe 11 and the solution supply port 12. The solution supply pipe 11 is embedded in the thickness of the partition plate 6 and communicates the outside of the casing 2 and the internal stirring chamber 8 inside the casing 2. Further, a solution supply port 12 is provided on the inside of the casing 2 of the solution supply pipe 11 and circulates with the internal stirring chamber 8. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the drainage outlet 13 is provided through the casing 2, and communicates the external stirring chamber 9 inside the casing 2 with the outside of the casing 2. FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of drainage. In this embodiment, the drainage discharge pipe 14 is embedded in the thickness of the partition plate 6 and communicates the external stirring chamber 9 inside the casing 2 and the outside of the casing 2. A drainage suction port 20 is provided on the inside of the casing 2 of the drainage discharge pipe 14, and the drainage is sucked from the drainage suction port 20 and discharged from the drainage discharge port 19. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the solution supply pipe 11, the solution supply port 12, and the drainage discharge ports 13, 19 are provided at one location for each stirring chamber 7, but the number of these is It is not limited to two or more locations.

  As described above, the stirring device 1 includes means for supplying a solution containing the culture solution to each stirring chamber 7 and means for discharging the waste liquid containing waste. By these means, continuous culture in which the supply of the solution to the sample and the discharge of the drainage generated from the sample are continuously performed becomes possible. Also, in the case of coarse culture or isolation, the sample containing the clumps of cells and fine powder with the adherent adhered to the sample by means of supplying the solution containing the washing liquid and discharging the waste liquid containing the adherent. It is possible to perform continuous processing for continuously processing the supply of the solution to the liquid and the discharge of the drainage generated from the sample.

  The sample to be cultured is, for example, a cell or tissue such as blood, or a microorganism such as lactic acid, organic acid, nucleic acid, or enzyme, but is not limited to such a cell or tissue or microorganism, Including things. Moreover, the solution containing this sample is a culture solution necessary for culturing these samples. These samples synthesize a substance that constitutes a cell with a culture solution supplied inside the casing 2 of the agitator 1 and assemble it to create new cells and proliferate. Therefore, the nutrient solution necessary for the growth of this sample is included in the culture solution. Examples of nutrient sources include carbon sources such as carbohydrates, oils, and organic acids, nitrogen sources such as urea, and inorganic salts. Cell proliferation is affected by environmental factors. Environmental factors include temperature, pressure, light, pH, osmotic pressure, and dissolved oxygen. In continuous culture, these environmental factors can always be maintained in an appropriate state, and stable culture is possible.

  The sample to be washed includes a mixture in the case of physically or chemically separating cells, tissues, microorganisms, or pure substances in a previous stage to be cultured. Further, the sample to be washed contains a lump of cells to be isolated, and also includes a powder that separates fine powder. The cleaning liquid contained in the solution is a generic term for those that promote such isolation and separation. Of course, in the case of organisms such as cells, tissues, and microorganisms, the washing solution includes a culture solution used for culture.

  Next, the culture method 1 of the stirring apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The solution containing the sample is first supplied from the sample supply port 17. This solution sequentially moves from the stirring chamber 7 on the sample supply port 17 side to the stirring chamber 7 on the sample discharge port 16 side through the opening 21 inside the partition plate 6. When the supply of the sample is completed, the stirring blade 5 connected to the shaft portion 4 is vibrated in the axial direction by the vibration source 3. On the other hand, a culture solution is supplied from the solution supply pipe 11 of each stirring chamber 7 and is injected from the solution supply port 12 into the internal stirring chamber 8. By this axial vibration, the sample in the solution and the nutrient source contained in the injected culture solution are mixed. During the mixing, turbulent flow is generated in the solution by the stirring blade 5, and substantially uniform mixing described later is performed over the entire internal stirring chamber 8. The sample grows by ingesting nutrient sources contained in the culture medium by this mixing. And a sample discharges excrement with growth. Further, the excrement is moved to the external stirring chamber 9 from the internal stirring chamber 8 through the filtering member 10 as waste together with the waste unnecessary for the culture in the solution. On the other hand, the sample itself cannot pass through the filter member 10 and therefore remains in the internal stirring chamber 8. The solution containing the waste is discharged as drainage from a drainage outlet 13 communicating with the external stirring chamber 9.

  The stirring method in which the stirring blade 5 vibrates in the axial direction is characterized in that the stirring blade 5 performs a reciprocating motion and the motion direction is continuously reversed. That is, the solution containing the sample repeats “folding” and “stretching” by the reciprocating motion of the stirring blade 5 to promote local mixing. This mixing is more effective when the flow path 22 in the casing 2 is further partitioned by the partition plate 6, and a mixing effect due to more uniform stirring occurs in the stirring chamber 7. Moreover, this stirring method is a preferable stirring method with less risk of damage for cells, tissues or microorganisms. That is, in the conventional stirring method in which a swirling flow such as a horizontal rotating flow is generated in the fluid, there is a risk that the shearing force generated by the rotation of the stirring blade may damage the sample. Further, the sample is moved as a swirling flow, and stress is generated. On the other hand, “folding” and “stretching” of the present stirring method are changes in pressure on the sample, and there is less risk of damage compared to shear force. Also, the sample is a local pressure change, and there is less sample movement and less stress compared to the swirl flow.

  In the present embodiment, a solution containing a sample is supplied from the sample supply port 17 while being pressurized. Accordingly, the sample moves toward the sample discharge port 16 with the passage of time due to this pressure. After a certain period of time, the sample moves to the sample discharge chamber 23 and is discharged from the material discharge port 16. Thus, according to the stirrer 1 of the present embodiment, the sample is continuously propagated by receiving the supply of the culture solution and the discharge of waste each time while moving through the respective stirring chambers 7. It is possible to culture stably. In addition, the proliferated sample can be taken out sequentially.

  Moreover, the stirring apparatus 1 of this embodiment can be used for the washing | cleaning of a sample. That is, the collected sample may have adhered matter, and is stirred by the stirring blade 5 in the manner described above with the solution containing the cleaning liquid. The sample in the solution and the injected cleaning liquid are mixed by the vibration in the axial direction of the stirring blade 5. During this mixing, a turbulent flow is generated in the solution by the stirring blade 5 and the mixing is performed almost uniformly throughout the internal stirring chamber 8. The adhering matter adhering to the sample is separated by this mixing. And this deposit | attachment passes as the waste from the internal stirring chamber 8 through the filtration member 10, and moves to the external stirring chamber 9. FIG. On the other hand, the sample itself cannot pass through the filter member 10 and therefore remains in the internal stirring chamber 8. This deposit is discharged from a drainage outlet 13 communicating with the external stirring chamber 9 as drainage. By supplying the cleaning liquid and discharging the waste for each stirring chamber 7 and stirring, it becomes possible to continuously and stably separate the deposits from the sample.

  In the present embodiment, a solution containing a sample is supplied from the sample supply port 17 while being pressurized. Therefore, the sample to which the deposits are attached moves toward the sample discharge port 16 with the passage of time due to this pressure. In the meantime, the deposit is gradually separated, moves to the sample discharge chamber 23 after a certain period of time, and is discharged from the sample discharge port 16. Thus, according to the stirring device 1 of the present embodiment, the deposits can be continuously separated from the sample, and the samples from which the deposits have been separated can be sequentially taken out.

(Second Embodiment)
In FIG. 5, schematic structure of 2nd Embodiment of a stirring apparatus is shown. FIG. 6 shows a BB cross section of FIG. The stirring device 100 of the present embodiment is configured such that the stirring chambers 7 independently stir the sample. That is, the partition plate 26 is connected by the shaft portion 4 and the sealing material 24, and the solution does not flow between the stirring chambers 7. Further, the sample supply port 17, the sample discharge chamber 23, and the sample discharge port 16 shown in FIG. 1 are not provided. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as the said 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the present embodiment, the sample is supplied and discharged from the solution supply port 12 through the solution supply pipe 11. That is, after the supply of the solution containing the sample from the solution supply port 12 is completed, the solution is continuously supplied from the solution supply port 12 to proliferate the sample. When the growth of the sample reaches a predetermined level, the solution containing the sample is sucked from the solution supply port 12 and discharged to the outside of the casing 2 through the solution supply pipe 11.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the plurality of stirring chambers 7 independently culture or wash the sample, and each is stirred by the same shaft portion 4. As a result, different types of samples can be supplied to the stirring chamber 7, and these can be cultured or washed simultaneously. Further, in the case of a sample that is cultured after being washed and separated from adhering matter, the washing step and the culturing step can be continuously performed stably by one stirring device 100.

(Third embodiment)
In FIG. 7, schematic structure of 3rd Embodiment of a stirring apparatus is shown. FIG. 8 shows a CC cross section of FIG. The stirring device 200 of this embodiment is obtained by adding a stirring filter member 15 to the stirring device 1 of the first embodiment. The stirring filter member 15 is an annular member provided in the opening 21 inside the annular partition plate 6, and the outside is fixed to the partition plate 6 and the inside is fixed to the shaft portion 4. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as the said 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The stirring filter member 15 is an element that partitions the stirring chamber 7 together with the partition plate 6 to which it is attached. Accordingly, in cooperation with the partition plate 6, the mixing effect by the stirring of the stirring blade 5 in the stirring chamber 7 is increased. Further, since the inside of the stirring and filtering member 15 is connected to the shaft portion 4, it vibrates in the axial direction as the shaft portion 4 vibrates in the axial direction. On the other hand, since the outside of the stirring filter member 15 is fixed by the partition plate 6, it does not vibrate. Thereby, the stirring filtration member 15 generates a turbulent flow due to vibration different from that of the stirring blade 5 in the solution inside the stirring chamber 7 on both sides thereof.

  A filter is attached to the stirring filter member 15. The stirring filter member 15 has a role of allowing the sample to pass therethrough. Therefore, the mesh of this filter is selected to have a size suitable for its role, but a mesh having a micro level roughness (fine mesh) may be selected depending on the scale of the sample and waste. The filter is made of, for example, stainless steel or ceramic, but is not limited thereto, and may be a polymer (nanofilter film) or the like.

  This embodiment is also used when, for example, the bound cell mass is isolated and extracted by the stirring blade 5 and the stirring filter member 15. That is, the coarseness of the mesh of the filter of the stirring filter member 15 is adjusted so that the isolated cells can pass through without passing the cell mass. Further, the sample is brought into contact with the vibrating stirring filter member 15 so that the binding force is weakened or the binding force is cut off to promote the isolation.

  Further, the mesh of the stirring filter member 15 can be made coarse on the sample supply port 17 side and fine on the sample discharge port 16 side. As a result, the mass of cells pressurized from the sample supply port 17 is separated in the internal stirring chamber 8, moves from the smaller mass to the sample discharge port 16 side, and is discharged from the sample discharge port 16. .

  Further, as described above, the stirring and filtering member 15 has a role of allowing the sample to pass therethrough, but has a feature that clogging of the sample and waste into the filter mesh is less likely to occur due to vibration of the filter itself. .

(Fourth embodiment)
FIG. 9 shows a fourth embodiment of the stirring device. The stirring device 300 of the present embodiment has a damper 25 and a spring 26 attached to the shaft portion 4 of the stirring device 1 of the first embodiment. Further, the configuration of the damper 25 and the spring 26 may be incorporated in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5 or the third embodiment shown in FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the structure same as the said 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In FIG. 10, the damper 25 and the spring 26 attached to a part of the shaft portion 4 are shown by symbols. In this way, the shaft portion 4 is separated and separated from the shaft portion 4a and the shaft portion 4b, and is connected in series via the damper 25 and the spring 26 at the respective end portions. The damper 25 and the spring 26 enable the vibration frequency of the shaft portion 4a on the sample supply port 17 side to be a value reduced with respect to the vibration frequency of the shaft portion 4b on the sample discharge port 16 side. .

  FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the damper 25 and the spring 26. For example, the damper 25 may be configured using a mechanism using a viscoelastic material 27, and the spring 26 may be configured using, for example, a spring 28. In this embodiment, the vibrator 29 is attached and fixed to the shaft portion 4a. On the other hand, the shaft portion 4b is provided with a recess 37 that encloses the vibrator 29 inside the shaft portion 4b. The vibrator 29 has a plate shape in the present embodiment, but may have another cross-sectional shape such as a rod shape. A viscoelastic material 27 is embedded in the gap between the vibrator 29 and the recess 37. The viscoelastic material 27 is fixed to the wall surface of the recess 37 by means such as adhesion. Further, the length (L in FIG. 11) in which the vibrator 29 is embedded in the recess 37 is determined by the amount of energy absorbed by the viscoelastic material 27 described later. Further, the shaft portion 4 a and the shaft portion 4 b are connected by a spring 28 that is a kind of the spring 26. The spring 28 has a role of elastically deforming relative to the relative movement between the shaft portion 4a and the shaft portion 4b and returning to the original interval by a restoring force. Although two springs 28 are arranged on the left and right of the vibrator 29 in FIG. 11, the number is not limited to this.

The viscoelastic material 27 is a polymer material that has a mechanical behavior having both a fluid-like viscosity and a spring-like elasticity. In FIG. 11, when the shaft portion 4b vibrates in the direction indicated by the arrow with respect to the shaft portion 4a, the viscoelastic material 27 provided between the vibrator 29 and the shaft portion 4a receives a shear force and undergoes shear deformation. The viscoelastic material 27 is plasticized by this shear deformation, and absorbs kinetic energy and converts it into thermal energy by this non-linear behavior. Therefore, the vibration energy (E ₀ ) of the shaft portion 4 a on the sample supply port 17 side is partly heat energy (δE) by the viscoelastic material 27. By this energy absorption, the vibration energy (Ex) transmitted to the shaft portion 4b on the sample discharge port 16 side is attenuated to Ex = E ₀ −δE. Due to the damped vibration energy, the vibration frequency of the shaft portion 4b on the sample discharge port 16 side becomes a value lower than the vibration frequency of the shaft portion 4a on the sample supply port 17 side.

  The shaft portion 4 is divided as in this embodiment, and the damper 25 and the spring 26 are attached to the end portions of the divided shaft portions 4a and 4b, so that the vibration of the stirring blades 5 inside the plurality of stirring chambers 7 can be obtained. It is possible to vary the frequency (or period) of. Thereby, stirring at a relatively low frequency can be performed in the initial stirring chamber 7, and stirring at a relatively high frequency can be performed in the stirring chamber 7 after the sample has moved. In addition, by setting the position of the vibration source 3 on the sample supply port 17 side, the initial stirring chamber 7 performs stirring at a relatively high frequency, and the stirring chamber 7 after the sample has moved has a relatively low frequency. Can be stirred. Further, in the case of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the frequency (or period) of the stirring blades 5 in the independent stirring chambers 7 is made different, for example, the required frequency However, it is possible to carry out stirring and washing simultaneously. In FIG. 9, there are two positions where the damper 25 and the spring 26 are attached. The attachment position and the number are determined by the method of using the stirring device 300 described above.

It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of 1st Embodiment of the stirring apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. 1 which show a solution supply pipe | tube and a solution supply port. It is a partial expanded sectional view which shows the other Example about discharge | emission of drainage. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of 2nd Embodiment of the stirring apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of 3rd Embodiment of the stirring apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is CC sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows schematic structure of 4th Embodiment of the stirring apparatus which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the damper and spring of 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing at the time of using a viscoelastic material for the damper of FIG. 10, and using a spring for a spring. It is the side view which shows the example of the stirring blade provided in the conventional culture tank and the culture tank, and its sectional drawing.

Explanation of symbols

  1,100,200,300 Stirring device, 2 casing, 3 vibration source, 4,4a, 4b shaft, 5 stirring blade, 6,26 partition plate, 7 stirring chamber, 8 internal stirring chamber, 9 external stirring chamber, 10 Filtration member, 11 Solution supply pipe, 12 Solution supply port, 13, 19 Drainage discharge port, 14 Drainage discharge pipe, 15 Stirring filtration member, 16 Sample discharge port, 17 Sample supply port, 18, 24 Sealing material, 20 Drainage Liquid suction port, 21 opening, 22 flow path, 23 sample discharge chamber, 25 damper, 26 spring, 27 viscoelastic material, 28 spring, 29 vibrator, 30 culture tank, 31 saddle type wing, 32 propeller type wing, 33 Flat blade turbine blade, 34 stirring shaft, 35 horizontal rotating flow, 36 radial flow, 37 recess.

Claims (9)

A casing having therein a flow passage through which a solution containing the sample flows,
A shaft portion disposed in the casing and connected to a vibration source;
A stirring blade that is attached around the shaft portion and vibrates in the axial direction by the vibration of the shaft portion to stir the sample;
A partition plate protruding from the inner peripheral surface of the casing and partitioning the flow passage into a plurality of stirring chambers;
A filtration member attached to surround the stirring blades, dividing the stirring chamber into an internal stirring chamber and an external stirring chamber, and allowing a waste generated by stirring the sample to pass through,
A solution supply pipe for circulating the solution;
A solution supply pipe connected to the solution supply pipe and supplying the solution to the internal stirring chamber;
A drainage outlet for draining waste liquid containing waste that has passed through the filter member from the external stirring chamber;
A stirrer comprising:   The stirrer according to claim 1, wherein the solution includes a culture solution used for culturing the sample, and waste generated by stirring the sample is discharged from a drainage outlet.   3. The stirrer according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the solution includes a cleaning liquid used for cleaning the sample to which the adhered matter is attached, and the adhered matter separated by the stirring of the sample is discharged from the drainage outlet as waste. A stirrer characterized in that   4. The stirring device according to claim 1, further comprising a sample discharge port for discharging the sample, wherein the solution supply port, the drainage discharge port, and the filtering member are provided in each of the plurality of stirring chambers, and are partitioned. The plate has an opening through which a fluid circulates, and discharges a sample that has passed through a plurality of stirring chambers from a sample discharge port.   5. The stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the solution supply pipe passes the partition plate from the outside and supplies the solution to the internal stirring chamber. 6.   6. The agitation device according to claim 1, further comprising a drainage discharge pipe that circulates the drainage and connects to the drainage outlet, the drainage discharge pipe penetrating the partition plate and draining the liquid. Is discharged from the external stirring chamber.   The stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a filter, wherein the peripheral portion is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the casing, the central portion is fixed to the shaft portion, and the shaft portion is vibrated in the axial direction by vibration of the shaft portion. A stirring device comprising a vibrating stirring filter member.   8. The stirring apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the stirring filter member is connected to the inner peripheral surface of the casing via a partition plate having an opening between the shaft portion, and a flow passage is provided inside the casing. And a plurality of stirring chambers partitioned by a partition plate.   The stirring device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the shaft portion is divided into a plurality of shafts, and end portions of adjacent shafts are connected to each other via a spring and a damper, and the vibration frequencies of the shafts are respectively determined. A stirrer characterized by being changed.

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